Military

The US Now Has More Freedom To Conduct Airstrikes In Somalia

The strikes will target Al-Shabab, a Somali Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The US Now Has More Freedom To Conduct Airstrikes In Somalia
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SMS

President Donald Trump has OK'd offensive airstrikes in Somalia.

Trump's authorization essentially repeals the Obama administration's restrictions on drone strikes in the African country.

The strikes will target Al-Shabab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Somalia. Previously, the military was limited to striking only in areas with "active hostilities" or in certain self-defense situations.

The announcement comes as the U.S. investigates reports that its own airstrikes killed civilians in Syria and Iraq.

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U.S. airstrikes in late March might have killed dozens of people near Raqqa, Syria.

And a separate airstrike in the country killed at least 40 people and injured dozens. Local rights groups say the strike targeted a mosque in northern Syria. U.S. officials denied that claim but said investigations into reports of civilian casualties were underway.

And in the city of Mosul, Iraq — which ISIS controls part of — U.S. strikes that Iraqi special forces requested might have killed as many as 200 civilians.